Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania - Hardcover

Lindsay Powell

3.88

51 ratings by Goodreads

9781848843332: Eager for Glory: The Untold Story of Drusus the Elder, Conqueror of Germania

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 184884333X ISBN 13: 9781848843332

Publisher: Pen & Sword Military, 2011

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Drusus the Elder (Nero Claudius Drusus) was regarded by the Romans as the first conqueror of Germania (western Germany) and a hero in the mould of Alexander the Great. Yet there has never been a full volume dedicated to his remarkable story, achievements and legacy. Eager for Glory brings this heroic figure back to life for a modern audience. Drusus was a stepson of Augustus, the first Roman emperor, through his marriage to Livia. As a commander he led daring campaigns by sea and land that pushed the northern frontiers of Rome's empire to the Elbe River. He oversaw one of the largest developments of military infrastructure of the age. He married Mark Antony's daughter, Antonia, and fathered Germanicus, the Empire's most popular general, and the future emperor Claudius. He died when he was only 29 and was revered in death. Eager for Glory is an objective and thoroughly researched account, written in a lucid narrative style which reveals the author's passion for the period.

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Review:

Eager for Glory is worthy of a place on the shelf of any ancient warfare fan. It is warmly recommended. --Ancient Warfare Magazine

This is a remarkably readable book. We don't know a lot about Drusus, and most of the accounts of his campaigns are lost, but Lindsay Powell gathers together what there is and produces a coherent account. Thus we have the story of the life of Drusus, an outline of his campaigns, an attempt to estimate which legions were involved, his death and legacy. Given the state of the evidence, it is impossible to provide 'orders of battle' for the participants in these campaigns, but the author does try to give as much detail as possible with regard to the participants, with photographs of re-enactors and the terrain. The author also looks at the reasons for the Romans deciding to stop and set the Rhine rather than the Elbe as a frontier, a decision of long-tern historical significance. A nice book that I enjoyed. --Miniature Wargames

Powell gives a solid account of the life and times of Drusus with an enviable lightness of literary touch. More to the point, he pulls off the difficult task of putting Drusus' career into the context of the political machinations of the early empire.

Where his account truly comes to life is in the military details. Powell clearly understands both the psychology of the Roman soldier and the practical issues of day-to-day life in the military in nuanced detail. --Adrian Murdoch UNRV.com

A real pleasure to read a book that is a page-turner for anyone interested in Ancient Rome! --Alberto Perez Rubio, Editor, Desperta Ferro

This ground-breaking book will appeal to all interested in ancient world history, biography, military history and adventure stories, but will be of particular interest to those studying classics in academia, Roman period re-enactment and numismatics. --Heritage and History

About the Author:

Lindsay Powell is a media communications professional and writer. His interest in the ancient world was sparked by studying classical civilization and Latin at school and he has been studying Roman history ever since. Born in Cardiff he is a veteran of the Ermine Street Guard, the premier Roman re-enactment group, but now lives in Austin, Texas. He has written a number of historical articles for Ancient Warfare and Exercitus. This will be his first book.

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